Saturday, April 28, 2012

Fethullah Gulen speaks at the commencement reception of Journalists and Writers Foundation:

As with the entire world, people in Turkey are also heading towards democracy. To date, majority of the people in Turkey have lived only with the ten percent of democracy; they were able to get only one tenth of it, and have survived up to this date with that.

Thursday, April 26, 2012

This is one of the first academic books about Fethullah Gülen, a Turkish scholar and preacher, and the civic movement he inspired in Turkey and ultimately throughout the world. The movement is rooted in moderate Islam and is committed to educating youth, fostering interfaith and intercultural dialog, assisting the needy in society and contributing to global peace. Based on interview data and visits to Gülen-inspired institutions, the book describes the movement from a sociological perspective, especially through the lens of social movement theory. It is the first book, grounded in empirical methodology, to describe the movement to a Western audience. It will be of special interest to social scientists interested in religious movements, religious scholars seeking information on Islamic movements and the general public eager to discover a moderate Islam that promotes humanitarian projects.

Wednesday, April 25, 2012

The Hizmet Movement in the Turkish Context was the topic of the third panel at the "International Conference on Gulen Movement: Paradigms, Projects, Aspirations" held at the International House of University of Chicago in 2010.

In the panel, Dr. James C. Harrington of the Texas Civil Rights Institute from University of Texas presented his paper titled Strengthening Religious Freedom, Free Speech, and Democracy in Turkey: The Political Trial of Fethullah Gülen. Below are some excerpts from Dr. Harrington's presentation:

Tuesday, April 24, 2012

Hizmet Movement and Civic Engagement was the topic of the second panel at the "International Conference on Gulen Movement: Paradigms, Projects, Aspirations" held at the International House of University of Chicago in 2010.

In the panel, Dr. Greg Barton of Monash University, Australia presented his paper titled Understanding the Gulen Movement enterprises through the lens of ‘Social Business’. Below are some excerpts from Dr. Barton's presentation:

Sunday, April 22, 2012

Sociological Approaches to the Hizmet Movement was the topic of the fifth panel at the “International Conference on the Gulen Movement: Paradigms, Projects, Aspirations” held at the International House of University of Chicago in 2010.

In the panel, Dr. Muhammed Cetin of the East Stroudsburg University, Pennsylvania presented his paper titled The Gulen Movement - Civic Engagement, Efficacy and Success. Below are some excerpts from Dr. Cetin’s presentation:

Modern Social Paradigms and the Hizmet Movement was the topic of the sixth panel at the “International Conference on the Gulen Movement: Paradigms, Projects, Aspirations” held at the International House of University of Chicago in 2010.

In the panel, Dr. Jeremy Walton of the New York University presented his paper titled Toward a Comprehensive Interpretation of Piety and Civility: Theological, Ethical, Institutional and Aesthetic Dimensions of the Hizmet Movement. Below are some excerpts from Dr. Walton’s presentation:

Friday, April 20, 2012

Fethullah Gulen Chair at the UIN Syarif Hidayatullah Jakarta, Indonesia hosted a conference titled The Significance of the Education for the Future: The Gulen Model of Education.

Prof. Dr. Rostislav Rybakov, who is the director of the Institute of Oriental Studies at the Russian Academy of Sciences and the head of the Dialogue Eurasia Platform (DA), was interviewed at the opening reception:

Monday, April 16, 2012

Religious Studies Perspectives on the Hizmet Movement was the topic of the fourth panel at the “International Conference on the Gulen Movement: Paradigms, Projects, Aspirations” held at the International House of University of Chicago in 2010.

In the panel, Dr. Jon Pahl of the Lutheran Theological Seminary at the Temple University, Pennsylvania presented his paper on the Sacred Space in the Hizmet Movement and the Thought of M. Fethullah Gulen. Below are some excerpts from Dr. Pahl’s presentation:

Friday, April 13, 2012

Religious Studies Perspectives on the Hizmet Movement was the topic of the fourth panel at the “International Conference on the Gulen Movement: Paradigms, Projects, Aspirations” held at the International House of University of Chicago in 2010.

In the panel, Dr. Klas Grinell of the Gothenburg University of Sweden presented his paper on Islamic Movements and Gulen’s conception of Knowledge. Below are some excerpts from Dr. Rausch’s presentation:

Thursday, April 12, 2012

Religious Studies Perspectives on the Hizmet Movement was the topic of the fourth panel at the “International Conference on the Gulen Movement: Paradigms, Projects, Aspirations” held at the International House of University of Chicago in 2010.

In the panel, Dr. Margaret J. Rausch of the University of Kansas presented her paper on The Hizmet Movement and Sufism: Moral Selfhood and Compassionate Engagement. Below are some excerpts from Dr. Rausch’s presentation:

Tuesday, April 10, 2012

Hizmet Movement and Civic Engagement was the topic of the second panel at the “International Conference on the Gulen Movement: Paradigms, Projects, Aspirations” held at the International House of University of Chicago in 2010.

In the panel, Dr. Martin Marty of the University of Chicago presented his paper on The Risks and Promise of “Engagement” in Gulen’s Writings. Below are some excerpts from Dr. Marty’s presentation:

Monday, April 9, 2012

Fethullah Gulen's contributions to peace were discussed at the conference, Preventing Violence and Achieving World Peace: The Contributions of the Gulen Movement, on October 29, 2009 at the University of Maryland, College Park held by the Rumi Forum of Maryland.

The conference is co-sponsored by Dept. of Anthropology ,The Rumi Club, Graduate Student Government at the University of Maryland, College Park. Several distinguished speakers including former ambassador, US State Department official Peter Kovach, academicians talked about the contributions of the Gulen Movement to the World Peace.

Friday, April 6, 2012

The Gulen Institute at Houston University which has been bringing preeminent figures of the US together for various conferences held its latest panel this week. The subject of the panel was "The Role of Common Values in Mitigating Global and Local Issues". Panelists addressed the current challenges of the US in particular and the world in general, and discussed how all agents in a society offer solutions to these problems using common shared values.

Greek media have shown interest in Turkish Scholar Fethullah Gulen following other prominent newspapers from around the world. Kathimerini, a reputable economics and politics daily paper left a 15 page dossier to analyze Gulen and his teachings.

Following two famous newspapers in Greece "Ta Nea" and "To Vima", Kathimerini prepared an analysis of 15 pages titled "International Fethullah Gulen Movement".

Inspired by ideas of Fethullah Gulen, "Is Anybody There" which is a friend of those in need has reached out to the other end of the world to deliver the sacrificial meat by Turkish donors to people in Vietnam regardless of wether they are Muslims or non-Muslims. The Turkish NGO reminded the Vietnamese that they were not neglected as they performed the sacrifice.

When 9/11 attacks took place, Fethullah Gulen was one of the first Islamic scholar to step forward and unequivocally condemn such acts. Fethullah Gulen said:

Terror can never be used in the name of Islam or for the sake of any Islamic end. Acts such as random killing, suicide bombings and kidnapping are completely forbidden in Islam and can never be undertaken whatever circumstance condition. Those who kill one innocent person through such acts are considered in Islam to have killed the whole humankind. A terrorist can not be a Muslim and a Muslim can not be terrorist. A Muslim can only be representative as a symbol of peace, well-being and prosperity.

Wednesday, April 4, 2012

The “East and West Encounters: The Gulen Movement” conference was held on Dec. 4-6 and was organized by the Pacifica Institute, a Turkish-American institution established by the Turkish community in the Los Angeles area. The conference was sponsored by the University of Southern California's Office of Religious Life, the International Education Center at Santa Monica College, the department of theological studies at Loyola Marymount University, the department of religious studies at Humboldt University and the department of religious studies at Whittier College. The conference was held on the USC campus.

A very special reception and dinner was held for the three-day event, "The International Conference on East and West Encounters: The Gulen Movement", which will feature scholars of different backgrounds and will aim to stimulate ideas and ways to continue the wisdom of Turkish Muslim scholar Fethullah Gulen to find peace amongst all people and societies.

Tuesday, April 3, 2012

Fethullah Gülen is a Turkish intellectual, scholar, and activist whose influence over a new Islamic intellectual, social, and spiritual revival is revealed in this insightful book. Readers will gain a fuller understanding of where Gulen stands on issues of inherent human value and dignity, freedom of thought, education and taking responsibility for creating society and the world. In addition, readers will also see how different perspectives across time, geography, and worldview can still find points on which to engage in dialogue and find a deep resonance.

The Gulen movement was praised as a movement that can set a good example for the Islamic world during a two-day conference held at Georgetown University in Washington, D.C., over the weekend.

The conference, titled "Islam in the Age of Global Challenges: Alternative Perspectives of the Gülen Movement," was held on Nov. 15 and 16 by Georgetown University and the Rumi Forum with the participation of several academics from around the world. Attendees of the conference praised the Gülen movement -- led by respected Turkish intellectual and scholar Fethullah Gülen -- for its contributions to world peace and interfaith dialogue.

"The modern world needs the Gülen movement, which acts in a responsible manner. The Gülen movement may be effective in the restructuring of the Middle East. I believe it is the best movement in the Islamic world in the last century," said Georgetown University's Professor John Esposito.

Marywood University and The Golden Generation Retreat Center of Scranton Pennsylvania recently hosted a program entitled "Gulen Movement: A Dynamic Muslim Movement for Service and Education". Fr. Thomas Michel, Director of the Jesuits' Office for Inter-religious Dialogue was the keynote speaker. The event took place at the Marywood University Hall in Scranton.

The seminar started with Father Michel telling about his background and how he served in different parts of the world to promote dialogue. When he was asked how was introduced to Turkish culture and the Fethullah Gulen Movement he spoke about how he studied in Turkiye.

You may or may not know the name Fethullah Gulen-- but the Turkish Muslim scholar has millions of followers-- and he's considered one of the most influential Muslims in the world. And-- of all places-- he lives here- in the Pennsylvania countryside.

Gülen is characterized in the media as one of the world's most important Muslim figures. He is the inspirational leader of the Gulen movement.

Appointed by US President Barack Obama and the first Muslim woman to be a member of the White House Advisory Council on Faith-based and Neighborhood Partnerships, Dalia Mogahed has said the Gülen movement, a faith-based social movement named after Turkish Islamic scholar Fethullah Gulen, is a model and inspiration for all those working for the good of the society.

In a lengthy article published by Reuters, the Gulen Movement was analyzed and Fethullah Gulen was described as a Muslim scholar who advocates a moderate Islam rooted in modern life, and whose teachings have inspired millions to forge a powerful socio-religious community active in publishing, charity and above all education.

In the article, Reuters say Gulen has a reputation abroad as a Muslim who preaches tolerance and engagement with other faiths and that the movement has built up a network of some 800 schools around the world, teaching a full curriculum focusing on science and technology, as well as encouraging pupils to aim high.

Fethullah Gulen has become one of the best known scholars. Gulen's books have been translated into many languages. Opening ceremonies are held for the Gulen Chairs at universities for his interfaith dialog struggles.

Conferences on Gulen and his movement are held at institutes all around the world. And the educational volunteers who are inspired by Gulen have become themes to be evaluated in important organizations.

Fethullah Gülen is a Turkish Muslim scholar, thinker, author, poet, opinion leader, educational activist, and preacher emeritus. He is regarded as the initiator and inspirer of the worldwide social movement of human values known as the Hizmet (Service) Movement. Focused on education where secular curricula are taught by teachers who aspire to "represent" high values of humanity, this social phenomenon defeats easy categorization. Volunteer participants in the movement, consisting of students, academicians, business owners, professionals, public officials, white-collar and blue-collar workers, farmers, men and women, young and old, contribute to multiple ways of service, which crystallize in tutoring centers, schools, colleges, hospitals, a major relief organization, publishing houses, and media institutions, both in Turkey and in more than a hundred countries of the world.

The Turkish Supreme Court of Appeals has rejected the Chief Prosecutor's Office's objection to the acquittal of scholar Fethullah Gulen, which was upheld by the appeals court in early March. Gulen had been charged with "establishing an illegal organization". The objection was soundly defeated by a 16 to 7 vote.

Fethullah Gulen's acquittal has been officially registered a third time following the objection of the Chief Prosecutor Abdurrahman Yalçinkaya.

The prominent Turkish exiled leader, Fethullah Gülen, has been named as the world's top intellectual in an international poll conducted by Foreign Policy magazine. Gülen has been praised as a moderate Islamic leader with huge influence in his home country but some argue that he wants to overthrow Turkey's secular order and create an Islamic state. Press TV's Jody Sabral has the details from Istanbul.

Monday, April 2, 2012

Turkish intellectual Fethullah Gülen, one of the world's most influential Islamic scholars, has come out as the number one in the competition for the list for “The World’s Top 20 Public Intellectuals” organized by the Foreign Policy magazine. The survey, closely watched by millions all over the world, showed the top 10 were all Muslim scholars including two Nobel laureates, the novelist Orhan Pamuk, who is also Turkish, at No 4, and the Iranian human rights lawyer Shirin Ebadi, in 10th.

Mr. Fethullah Gülen is known and respected among Turkish Muslims as well as Muslims from around the world as an authoritative mainstream Muslim scholar of the Sunni tradition, to which 87–90% of the world’s Muslim population belongs. He is also a thinker, a poet, a prolific author, an educational activist and an opinion leader. His readership in Turkey is estimated at several million. His influence outside Turkey is growing daily as his works are translated into many languages including English, Arabic, Russian, German, Spanish, Urdu, Bosnian, Albanian, Malay and Indonesian. In addition to printed publications, his ideas are accessible to an ever increasing world population through private radio and television networks sympathetic to his views.

Hundreds gathered in New York City this week - for the 30th anniversary of the East/West Institute. The Global organization works to create dialogue between different cultures. And this year -- the group honored Turkish scholar Fethullah Gulen with a prestigious award.

Gulen also sent a message to the event, which was read by Asli Bilici on his behalf.

Fethullah Gülen, well-respected Turkish intellectual and scholar, was named for the The EastWest Institute's (EWI) 2011 Peace Building Award at an awards dinner held in New York on 10 May 2011, Tuesday for his contribution to world peace.

Journalists and Writers Foundation (GYV) President Mustafa Yeşil received the prestigious award on behalf of Gülen. In a message he sent to the ceremony, Gülen said he accepted the award not on behalf of himself but on behalf of numerous volunteers, among whom he sees himself.

Fethullah Gulen extended his congratulations to the organizers and the recipients of the Niagara Peace & Dialogue Awards for their dedication to a great cause.

The Niagara Foundation of Chicago presented the annual traditional awards for 2008. The awards go to individuals and organizations who have contributed their time, energy, leadership, and dedication to the cause of dialog, peace, tolerance, community service and understanding.

The event which took place at the University Club of Chicago, kicked off with a reception for the distinguished guests from academia, media, politics and fine arts.

The capital of Egypt hosted a conference titled Cultural Traditions of the East: From Antiquity to the Globalization. Russian, German, France, Turkish, and Austrian intellectuals attended the conference. The attendants talked about the Gulen Movement such as peace messages and activities which will make an end to the clashes between the cultures.

At the conference organized by the Russian Academy of Sciences and the Foreign Ministry of Russia under the leadership of the Russian Orient Institute, main subject was the missions of the Gulen Movement which brought the messages of peace to make an end to the clashes between the cultures.